There’s a justifiable amount of buzz around Campfire OK, the latest in a long line of Seattle-area bands who are updating Americana for the 21st century.

The group had the somewhat daunting task of helping launch the three-day Bumbershoot festival, performing at noon Saturday at the Fountain Lawn Stage.

They did not disappoint the crowd that showed up for the early show. Campfire OK can do the alterna-country thing (they’ve got the requisite banjo player). What sets them apart from the burgeoning group of local acts who wouldn’t look out of place at a Capitol Hill club or a barn raising is their versatility and range. These guys write pop songs that would make Harry Nilsson weep. They also genre hop with ease. Some tunes are almost epic rockers – not bad for a band with a pianist but nobody on the electric guitar. And some songs could’ve come from Tin Pan Alley (the banjo guy also plays the trumpet).

Campfire OK, who are releasing their second album, opened Bumbershoot this year. The next time they perform at the festival it will be later and at a larger venue.